Text: Cuba News 360 Editor

Photos: RRSS

321 World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified refrigerators for the national immunization program have been donated by the Canadian government to Cuba.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) explained that this donation is valued at approximately 1.3 million dollars and will ensure the cold chain for the storage and distribution of vaccines, and also to promote other components of the immunization program.

This assistance comes after Canada delivered 38 computers, which will be used to support the surveillance of Events Supposedly Attributed to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI).

With these teams, it will be possible to build capacity related to such an important activity in all the provinces and the 15 municipalities of the capital, PAHO said.

With this donation, 65% of the equipment coverage that the country needs has been reached, confirms Carilda Peña García herself, Deputy Minister of Public Health in Cuba.

Something new and very useful amid the power outages the country has been experiencing for months is that these refrigerators can maintain temperature for approximately 72 hours without power, thanks to the use of Sure Chill technology , which is used, especially, in African countries.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) donated 622 prequalified refrigerators some time ago, data provided by Alina Pérez Carreras, consultant for immunization issues at the PAHO/WHO Office in Cuba.